Japanese name: クスノハカエデ（樟葉楓） Scientific name:Acer itoanum
[Overview]
A subtropical evergreen tree growing to about 15 m tall on limestone ground in mountain forests.
It is the only evergreen maple in Japan.
The first-year branches and inflorescences are at first densely covered with white crinkled hairs, but become hairless over time.
The leaves are simple and opposite; although it is a maple, they are not palmately divided, but elliptic, 4–10 cm long and 1.8–5 cm wide.
They are rather thick and leathery, with entire margins.
The petiole is 0.5–6 cm long.
The flowers arise from the leaf axils, about 30 borne on an erect compound corymb.
The flowers are pale yellow, with 5 sepals and 5 petals.
The fruits occur in pairs, each with a propeller-like wing, and the wings spread at an acute angle.
[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed or by cuttings.
It prefers a sunny, well-drained site.
Longhorn beetles and aphids cause damage, so catch and kill them as soon as they are found.
[Notes]
The Japanese name comes from the leaves resembling those of the Kusunoki.
